Herding Squirrels Ep 04
w Frédéric Rivain
CTO, Dashlane
Join us as we play with Frédéric Rivain, CTO of Dashlane, as he shares insights on building high-performing technical teams through LEGO® Serious Play® methodology. Discover why team "intimacy" and intentional relationship-building are crucial for engineering leadership, how to avoid the dangerous trap of "illusion of alignment," and practical strategies for navigating remote work challenges. From unity and consistency to stepping outside your network, learn actionable advice for technical leaders at every career stage.
Frédéric is the Chief Technology Officer at Dashlane, a leading cybersecurity company specializing in credential management and digital identity solutions. With over two decades of experience in tech leadership, Frédéric drives innovation in security and privacy. A passionate advocate for user-centric security, he brings a unique perspective on blending convenience and robust protection for both individuals and businesses.
Find Frédéric online and at the Dashlane Blog: https://www.dashlane.com/blog
Episode Highlights
[00:03:52] The foundations of great teams: shared mission and unity
[00:06:29] Building consistency and unity in teams intentionally
[00:07:33] The importance of intimacy and vulnerability in team relationships
[00:08:18] The trust equation: credibility, intimacy, and self-awareness
[00:09:14] Dysfunctional teams: the illusion of alignment
[00:11:39] Recognizing when teams are not truly aligned
[00:14:54] Balancing business demands with team development
[00:16:55] Remote work: advantages and challenges for teams
[00:19:28] Finding balance in return-to-office policies
[00:21:36] The evolving role of a CTO through different company stages
[00:23:13] Leadership advice: taking one step at a time on your journey
[00:24:47] The importance of extending your network as you grow in leadership
[00:25:50] Using games and play to foster team learning and connection
Key Insights
Unity and Consistency: Frédéric emphasizes that great teams have a shared mission and direction, along with a unity that doesn't mean everyone is the same, but rather a consistency in how people approach work together (00:03:52)
Intentional Relationship Building: Being intentional about building team relationships is essential - it doesn't happen by magic. Teams need to spend time getting to know each other both professionally and personally (00:06:29)
The Power of Intimacy: Frédéric believes in the importance of intimacy within teams, allowing vulnerability and authentic sharing that creates deeper connections (00:07:33)
The Illusion of Alignment: One of the biggest challenges in dysfunctional teams is what Frédéric calls "the illusion of alignment" - where people say yes but don't actually support decisions in practice (00:09:14)
Remote Work Balance: While remote work offers flexibility and individual productivity benefits, it creates challenges for building culture, innovation, and maintaining mental health (00:16:55)
Leadership as a Journey: Frédéric uses the metaphor of a staircase to describe leadership development - it's a journey with different steps that shouldn't be rushed (00:23:13)
Expanding Networks: As you grow in leadership, you need to extend your network further away from your immediate team to continue learning and developing (00:24:47)
Resources Mentioned
The Manager's Path by Camille Fournier
Dashlane Blog: https://www.dashlane.com/blog
Trust Equation (framework mentioned that includes credibility, intimacy, and self-awareness)
Herding Squirrels is a podcast about modern teams, where we uncover the nuts and bolts of effective teamwork.
